Now is the time to fortify your immune system

Now is the time to build up your immune system.

Seasons are changing and our immune systems are adjusting. I’ve heard more than a few sniffles when several clients are regretfully calling to reschedule appointments while they cough into the phone.

With so much talk about the flu vaccine (should we or shouldn’t we?), it’s good to pay attention to the system in your body that keeps you strong. And there are lots of actions that you can take to make your immune system healthy.

I like to sip herbal teas -- some are already formulated with tea bags, like Traditional Medicinals' Cold Care P.M., and Echinacea Plus-- and you can also find loose teas at various herbal shops and natural health food stores. When I make chicken soup, I also put a slice of astralgus root into the broth while it is simmering to stimulate the immune system.

Remember to wash up properly – after handling pets, before eating, after visiting the bathroom and after contact with someone who’s sick. Also wash your hands while you’re preparing food – especially if you’re working with several kinds of foods – raw meat and vegetables, for instance. Here’s a video that tells you how to really wash your hands -- worth watching

What you eat and drink will also affect the strength of your body to fight germs and other nasties. Here's a good review of 10 tips to keep your immune system strong.

Last year's Lake House blog also has some good tips worth repeating so I'll give you the link again here.

Keep hand sanitizer close by. Use bleach wipes to wipe doorknobs, phones, counters, yoga mats, wrestling mats and other frequently used objects where people may transfer germs from one place to another.

If you don’t want to use harsh chemicals, you can make cleansing wipes with pure essential oils like tea tree oil, a natural antibacterial agent, and eucalyptus. If you wish, add lavender, which will offer a pleasant smell. One recipe that I found online:

To prepare a roll of paper towels to become cleansing wipes, cut the roll in half so you have two short rolls. Remove the cardboard center. Place a short roll in an airtight water-proof container (like an old baby wipe box or tightly lidded plastic container).

Make a solution of:

1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vinegar
1 drop lavender pure essential oil
12 drops pure tea tree essential oil
12 drops pure eucalyptus essential oil

Pour the solution over the towels. Put the lid on the box and turn it upside down so the solution is absorbed. The solution could be kept in a jar and cloth towels dipped in it. Make sure that you label the solution clearly according to its use and keep out of the reach of children.

Keep your immune system healthy this winter

The cold season is here. I like keeping my people coming in for psychotherapy – not sick and ill and miserable at home. Winter is still here in Wisconsin and it will be here for a while. Here’s what I suggest to keep you healthy this winter.

Friends, there are alternatives to strengthening your immune system. Here, traditional Chinese medicine –which is much more than acupuncture – can be very helpful with its herbal remedies

One great immune-building remedy is Yin Chiao – also sometimes spelled Yinchaio—a powerful and yet inexpensive remedy that comes from the practice of traditional Chinese medicine.

This remedy, which comes in tablet and pill form as well as tea bags, is available at most natural pharmacies and from practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine. In Racine, you can find this remedy at a number of locations; see The Guide for listings of regional practitioners and resources in southeastern Wisconsin.

Yes, by all means, do the regular “stuff” to build your immune system and keep it healthy:

Drink green tea. It helps fortify your immune system.

Reduce your intake of sugar and sugary foods, which have been proven to significantly suppress your immune system for up to six hours after consuming.

Reduce your stress in whatever way that means – saying “no” to extra commitments, for instance, and staying away form abusive and demanding people. You may also want to practice some sort of stress reduction activities, such as meditation, prayer, yoga or tai chi.

Practice positive self-care behaviors: getting enough sleep and eating whole foods. Massage, yoga and tai chi help too.

Wash your hands frequently. Use soap and hot water and take your time.

Use alcohol or bleach wipes to clean door knobs, phones and other places where germs like to live.

Consider essential oils. Dr. Andrew Weil suggests using essential oil of thyme in an infuser. Be sure to use an essential oil that is labeled “medical grade” or “pharmaceutical grade.”